The gentle curves of the spherical design resemble the curves of the surrounding landscape. The choice of a sphere, an expression of abstract symbolism, enables the retractable roof to move along its surface.

The retractable roofs are closed right above the spine, after gradually moving parallel up to the spine. They are pulled up with wires that have a winch member at the bottom. Each rib has a different curve ratio from the others, and each wire has a different load from the others.

Photo: Koji Kobayashi

The giant's blink is supported by advanced technology that calculates and controls the loads, and by external wires powered by computers.

It might be just coincidence but we have a pineal gland in the brain that is said to be a degenerated eye-like organ. It seems that we had a third eye in our brain to look up the sky, rather than two eyes to see the world on the earth.

Since people abandoned the universe to stay on the earth, the third eye became useless and degenerated. Seeing the Big Eye watching only the sky, such a thought came to my mind.

/Kisho Kurokawa Interview by Makoto Takahashi

Photo: Koji Kobayashi

Photo: Koji Kobayashi

A retractable seating system removes the seats, that are placed at the edge of the field to enhance the feeling of being part of the soccer arena, to accommodate track events.

The elliptical roof opening runs along the north-south axis for the field to get proper sunlight exposure. The economical structure of the main beam arch, with perpendicular horizontal-running sub-beams, corresponds to the elliptical shape of the roof opening. The vastness of the site made this type of pipe-arch structure possible and also the most reasonable.

Photo: Koji Kobayashi

Photo: Koji Kobayashi

A slit is cut between the roof and the spectator seating to allow for natural ventilation in the summer, and to create a feeling of openness and a view of the mountains. The use of ultra-modern teflon membrane panels with 25% light-permeablity removes the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours.

Photo: Koji Kobayashi

A moving camera is placed on the main beam, the world's first, to deliver dynamic images to the rest or the world.

Photo: Koji Kobayashi

Stadium, feature several facilities including a general fitness center, a training and lodging center, a botanical pool, 2 multi-purpose athletic fields, 2 soccer and rugby training fields, a sub-training field, a softball field, a public baseball field, 11 tennis courts, a throwing event practice field, a gate-ball field and an open track that can be used year-round because of the retractable roof feature.

Photo: Koji KobayashiTea lounge on the first floor

Photo: Koji Kobayashi Entrance lobby for the VIP room on the first floor

The Oita Stadium, chosen as an arena for the World Cup Games in 2002, will continue to grow striving to become a large-scale and extensive all-purpose sports park ready for the 2008 Second Tour of the Japanese Inter-Prefectural Athletic Competition.